Teacher on station bail as cops probe rape of girl, 14

Police are investigating the rape of a 14-year-old girl allegedly by a teacher at the school she attends in Berbice.

According to the allegation, the 22-year-old teacher has impregnated the student.

The story came to light on Friday last, after the child’s grandmother went to the school and made a report to another teacher.

Sources close to the investigation told Stabroek News that the child had absent from school and had complained to her grandparents that she was unwell. She was subsequently taken to the doctor where her grandparents were informed that she was pregnant. When questioned by her grandparents she indicated that she had been impregnated by the teacher.

As a result, her grandfather went to the family of teacher, at which point, the source said, the mother of the accused who is also an educator offered to settle the matter and took the vulnerable child to a private clinic.

However, following the revelation made by the grandmother to a teacher at the school, the police were called in and they arrested the accused and several others. They were subsequently released on station bail following end of the lawful 72 hours.

A file is expected to be sent to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice.

Advocates against sex abuse of children have condemned the lengthy process involved in instituting charges. Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence and Director of Child Protection Agency Ann Greene have called for faster processing of child sex abuse cases.